Pegasus Pegasus Clues to the meaning of this celestial feature Pegasus (Greek Pegasos) is the winged white horse, son of Poseidon in the shape of a horse. At birth Pegasus sprang forth from the bloody neck of the Gorgon Medusa ( Algol ) when she was beheaded by the hero Perseus . A spring was created when Pegasus' hooves struck the earth on Mount Helicon, the fabled spring of Hippocrene, at the behest of Poseidon to prevent the mountain swelling too much. Pegasus was tamed by Bellerophon who rode him into battle against the fire-breathing Chimera. Later Bellerophon attempted to fly to Mt. Olympus, the home of the gods, on the back of Pegasus. The gods sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus causing the horse to buck, throwing Bellerophon back down to earth. Pegasus, freed of his burden, continued to wing his way to Mt. Olympus where he took a place in the stables of Zeus/Jupiter. One of his wing feathers fell to earth close to Tarsus giving the city its name. It is said that Pegasus bears for Jupiter the lightning and thunder.

Pegasus was a great favorite with the nine Muses who gathered around the Mount Helicon spring to sing and dance, for its water was said to bring poetic inspiration. Read what writers of myth have written on Pegasus on this Theoi Project webpage Hevelius, Firmamentum, 1690, depicts the head of Aquarius (Ganymedes) encroaching onto the heads of the two horses; Pegasus and Equuleus . This might have significance: To compensate the father of Ganymedes, King Laomedon of Troy, for abducting his son Zeus gave him two horses [ 1 ]. Allen ( Star Names ) says that some of the mythologists said that Equuleus represented Cyllarus, given to Pollux by Juno. In myth the Gemini Twins ride two horses "the immortal steeds Cyllarus and Harpagus" [ 2 ]. It seems that Equuleus is Cyllarus, and Harpagus must be Pegasus. Johann Bode, Uranographia, 1801 In myth Pegasus carries the thunderbolts of Zeus.

Pegasus, also called Sonipes, 'Noisy-footed', "becoming the Thundering Horse of Jove that carried the divine lightning" [ Star Names ]. There is a type of fish, called the 'pegasus sea moth ' of the family Pegasidae. Their horselike face, coupled with pectoral fins that spread horizontally like a pair of wings. They live in monogamous pairs, scratching the sand on the ocean floor. The specialized morphology of the pectoral fins enlarges and form 'wings' which they use to 'fly' through the water. Captive individuals have also been observed shedding their entire skin in one piece with a rapid jump every few days [ 3 ]. To jump out of skin is a metaphor for excitement, or shock.

"But when Perseus had cut off the head of Medousa [Medusa, see Algol ] there sprang from her blood stout-hearted Khrysaor and the horse Pegasos so named from the 'pegai' (springs) of Okeanos, where he was born" [Hesiod, Theogony 280 4 ] The word Pegasus is believed to be related to Greek pegai, or pege, a spring, Greek pegazo, 'spring forth' or 'to gush forth' [ 5 ]. Pegasus caused springs to gush forth as he pawed the earth with his hoof, on Mount Helicon, and another on Hippocrene ('horse spring'). There is a phonetic similarity between the English word 'peg', and Greek pege, spring. One of the uses for pegs is to determine the levels of underground water or springs; English peg comes from German pegel, 'gauge rod, watermark'; hence a semantic correspondence between these words. Another meaning of peg is a nail, horses have one toe and one large nail on each foot. A peg can also be a nail for hanging things on.

Pegasus is a horse that is particularly associated with using his hooves, it was with his hoof that he scratched (ungula rupit) or scraped the surface of the ground and caused the springs to gush forth. Called Sonipes, 'Noisy-footed', "as his hooves could be heard thundering across the skies in a storm". Pegasus, so named from the Greek pegai (springs), Greek pegazo, 'spring forth' or 'gush forth' [ 6 ]. Pegasus is said to have sprang from the blood of Medusa after she was killed by Perseus [ 7 ]. Pegasus is the creator of springs through pawing the ground and causing springs to spring up. The word spring means three things; a leap or jump; the source of water, source of something; and the season in which plants spring up and grow. Spring is related to the word spurn which originally meant 'to kick', from Old High German spurnan to kick, Old Indian sphurati, 'kicks with the foot', Latin spernere 'to spurn'. In myth Bellerophon attempts to fly to heaven on the back of Pegasus.

Pegasus kicked, causing Bellerophon to fall off his back. After spurning Bellerophon, Pegasus continued on to Mount Olympus on his own. Klein gives an explanation for the root and the likely relatives of the word spurn, "from Old English spurnan, 'to kick with the foot, drive away', ... Greek spairein 'to move convulsively', sphura, 'hammer', spuron, 'ankle', Latin spernere, 'to reject, spurn', Lithuanian spiriu, spirti, ... Lithuanian sparnas, 'wing', Middle Irish seir (for *speret-s), 'heel', Welsh ffer, ffern, 'heel', and possibly also Greek spaira 'a sphere, ball, globe'. Compare Sphyraena, sphere. Compare also sperm, spore. Compare also spring".

A cognate of spurn: Middle Irish seir (for *speret-s), 'heel', Welsh ffer, ffern, 'heel'; Tarsus, a Cilician city attributed its name to the feather which fell to the ground from Pegasus at birth, or in another version of the myths where Bellerophon fell from Pegasus. The tarsus is known as the hock in many domestic mammals. It is the anatomical homologue of the heel of the human foot [ 8 ]. The Paganalia was the festival of sowing seeds, or propagating seed. The word sperm which Klein suggests is cognate with spring and spurn, is from Greek sperma, sperm seed < 'that which is scattered'. Sperma: something sown, i.e. seed (including the male 'sperm'). Sperm comes from the Indo-European root * sper - 'To strew'. Derivatives: sprawl, sprout, spruce, spritz, spritzer, sprit, bowsprit, spray², spread, Diaspora, sperm¹, spore, sporo-, exosporium, sporadic, spray¹. [Pokorny 2.

(s)p(h)er- 993. Watkins ] [Pegasus was created by the blood of Medusa’s severed head mixed with the foam and sand of the sea - Pegasus is adjacent to Pisces, the sea. The sperm (white liquid, white horse) mixing with the semen?] Wikipedia gives another etymology for Pegasus "the name's origins may come from the word in the Luwian language: pihassas, meaning 'lightning.'" The word spirit [related to; aspire, conspire, esprit, expire, inspire, perspire, respire, sprightly, transpire] has a number of associations with Pegasus. It was the action of his hoof pawing the ground that the Hippocrene (horse-springs), the inspiring fountain of the Muses sprang forth. "Everywhere the winged horse struck hoof to earth, an inspiring spring burst forth" [ 9 ].

In poetry, the phrase "My Pegasus will not go this morning" means the author's brain will not work (lacks inspiration), and "I am mounting my Pegasus" means he's going to write (he's becoming inspired), and "I am on my Pegasus" means he's engaged in writing [ 10 ]. The word peg also means 'a drink of spirits'. Horses, more than any other animal, are referred to as spirited. "The use of 'spring' (pege) alludes to the Jacob tradition, while 'welling up' (hallomenou) is a verb used for the action of the Spirit of God in the Septuagint (e.g., Judges 15:14 and 1 Samuel 10:10)" [ 11 ]. "Sperm was thought to contribute the spirit to the matter of the maternal egg" [ 12 ]. Hylas soon found a spring, which the people of the neighborhood call Pegai. ... a Nymphe Ephyatie (of the water), was just emerging from the limpid water as Hylas drew near.

And there, with the full moon shining from a clear sky, she saw him in all his radiant beauty and alluring grace. Her heart was flooded by desire; she had a struggle to regain her scattered wits. But Hylas now leant over to one side to dip his ewer in: and as soon as the water was gurgling loudly round the ringing bronze she threw her left arm round his neck in her eagerness to kiss his gentle lips. Then with her right hand she drew his elbow down and plunged him in midstream … Ephyatie might be called a water-sprite (a doublet of spirit), who springed Hylas (springe means to trap or snare), a sprite is also the word for a large, dim, red flash that appears above active thunderstorms in conjunction with lightning. In myth Pegasus carries the thunderbolts of Zeus on Mount Olympos. Pegasus is described as a white horse "snowy white in color" [ Star Names ]: "Then I saw heaven open and there was a white horse.

Its rider is called Faithful and True....His eyes were like a flame of fire, and he wore many crowns on his head....The armies of heaven followed him riding on white horses...on his robe and on his thigh was written the name: King of kings and Lord of lords" Revelations 19:11. [ 13 ] [The winning sperm might relate to adjacent Equuleus , the racehorse, 'the first horse' in a race. The sperm and egg together might be the two kid goats in Auriga ] Ingenium. - Seneca. - Plato. - Aristotle. - Helicon. - Pegasus. - Parnassus. - Ovid. - First, we require in our poet or maker (for that title our language affords him elegantly with the Greek) a goodness of natural wit. For whereas all other arts consist of doctrine and precepts, the poet must be able by nature and instinct to pour out the treasure of his mind, and as Seneca saith, Aliquando secundum Anacreontem insanire jucundum esse; by which he understands the poetical rapture.

And according to that of Plato, Frustrà poeticas fores sui compos pulsavit. And of Aristotle, Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixturâ dementiæ fuit. Nec potest grande aliquid, et supra cæteros loqui, nisi mota mens. Then it riseth higher, as by a divine instinct, when it contemns common and known conceptions. It utters somewhat above a mortal mouth. Then it gets aloft and flies away with his rider, whither before it was doubtful to ascend. This the poets understood by their Helicon, Pegasus, or Parnassus; and this made Ovid to boast, “Est deus in nobis, agitante calescimus illo, Sedibus æthereis spiritus ille venit.” [“There is a god within us, and when he is stirred we grow warm; that spirit comes from heavenly realms.”] [ Discoveries Made Upon Men and Matter, and Some Poems , by Ben Johnson] The two horses, Cyllarus and Hylonome , might relate to the two adjacent constellations Equuleus and Pegasus. Cyllarus is identified with Equuleus.

Hylonome “browser of the wood”, is from the district Pagasae, similar to 'pegasus', and 'pagan' (from the above root * pag -). "Many a centauress would be his [Cyllarus'] mate, but one had gained his heart, [she-centaur] Hylonome. In the high woods there was none comelier of all the centaur-girls, and she alone by love and love’s sweet words and winning ways held Cyllarus, yes, and the care she took to look her best (so far as that may be with limbs like that). She combed her glossy hair, and twined her curls in turn with rosemary or violets or roses, and sometimes she wore a pure white lily. Twice a day she bathed her face in the clear brook that fell from Pagasae’s high forest, twice she plunged her body in its flow, nor would she wear on her left side and shoulder any skin but what became her from best-chosen beasts.

Their love was equal; on the hills they roamed together, and together they would go back to their cave; and this time too they went into the Lapithae’s palace side by side and side by side were fighting in the fray. A javelin (no knowing from whose hand) came from the left and wounded Cyllarus, landing below the place where the chest joins neck – slight wound, but when the point was pulled away, cold grew his damaged heart and cold his limbs. Hylonome embraced him as he died, caressed the wound and, putting lips to lips, she tried to stay his spirit as it fled. And when she saw him lifeless, she moaned words that in that uproar failed to reach my ears; and fell upon the spear that pierced her love, and, dying, held her husband in her arms." - Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.210 The two lovers were pegged together in death when Hylonome, in leaning over Cyllarus to embrace him, fell upon the spear that had pierced through his body, thus impaling herself. According to Allen (below) Pegasus seems to have been regarded by the Phoenicians as the sky emblem of a ship.

They used Pag, or Pega, the Bridled Horse, for the figurehead on a ship. In the old work the Destruction of Troye,, we read of "a ship built by Perseus, and named Pegasus, which was likened to a flying horse." (Allen p.323, below). This might explain the association with ships in the astrological influences ("the constellation portends events concerning ships"). The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius: "Him the Horse in swift career strives to overtake and speeds along, his front distinguished by a resplendent star [beta Peg, Scheat ]" [Manilius, Astronomica , 1st century AD, book 1, p.31.] [tries to overtake the other horse, Equuleus which is a head in front as the pictures show] "Pegasus the winged Horse will appear and gallop aloft in the heavens. It will bring forth people endowed with swiftness of movement and limbs alert to perform every task. One man will cause his horse to wheel round in caracoles, and proudly mounted on its back he will wage war from on high; horseman and soldier in one.

Another will possess the ability to rob the racecourse of its true length such is his speed that he will seem to dissemble the movement of his feet and make the ground vanish before him. Who more swiftly could fly back from the ends of the earth as messenger or with light foot to the earth's ends make his way? He will also heal a horse's wounds with the sap of common plants, and will know the herbs which bring aid to an animal's limbs and those which grow for the use of man." [Manilius, Astronomica , 1st century AD, book 5, p.350-353.] © Anne Wright 2008 Pegasus Constellation: Facts & Notable Features Pegasus Constellation: Facts & Notable Features By Kim Ann Zimmermann | July 24, 2012 06:25pm ET MORE Pegasus, a constellation in the northern sky, was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy. In the Northern Hemisphere, the constellation is high in the sky starting near the end of summer and continuing through autumn.

If you are below the Equator, look for Pegasus in late winter and through spring. Major stars Pegasus is easy to find when you spot the Great Square. Credit: Akira Fujii / HubbleSite.org The stars α Peg (also known as Markab), β Peg, and γ Peg, and α Andromedae (Alpheratz or Sirrah) form the large asterism known as the Square of Pegasus. The front legs of the winged horse are formed by two crooked lines of stars, one leading from η Peg to κ Peg and the other from μ Peg to 1 Pegasi. Another crooked line of stars form the neck and head. The brightest star in the constellation is Enif (ε Peg), which forms the nose. The star Scheat forms the foreleg and the star Algenib, Arabic for wing, defines the wing. Although Algenib’s luminosity is 1,900 times greater than the Sun, it is seen only at a magnitude 2.8 because it is 570 light-years away. Another star in this constellation, 51 Pegasi , is the first Sun-like star known to have a planet orbiting around it.

Einstein's Cross is an example of gravitational lensing. Credit: NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) Constellations ancient and modern grace the skies year round. Let's see what you know about the star patterns that appear overhead every night. Clusters of galaxies Among Pegasus’ more remarkable features are its numerous galaxies and objects. A Messier object , M15, is a globular cluster of magnitude 6.4 about 34,000 light-years from Earth. It is one of the most densely packed clusters in the Milky Way galaxy. NGC 7331 is a spiral galaxy about 38 million light-years away. It was one of the first objects to be described as "spiral." Einstein's Cross, a quasar, is an excellent example of gravitational lensing. The quasar is about 8 billion light-years from Earth, and sits behind a galaxy that is 400 million light-years away. Four images of the quasar appear around the galaxy because the intense gravity of the galaxy bends the light coming from the quasar. Stephan's Quintet is a cluster of five galaxies.

Credit: NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) Stephan's Quintet is actually a cluster of five galaxies that is 300 million light-years away. Pegasus' position Pegasus is best seen in October, at 9 p.m. local time. Right ascension: 22 hours Visible between latitudes 90 and -60 degrees Mythology The name comes from the winged white horse that was the sire of Poseidon in Greek mythology. The story of Pegasus begins with a battle between Perseus and Medusa. One day the warrior Bellerophon tried to ride Pegasus to Mount Olympus, enraging Zeus so much that he sent a gadfly to bite Pegasus. When the horse was stung, Bellerophon fell to the Earth. Pegasus made it to Olympus. [ How the Night Sky Constellations Got Their Names ] — Kim Ann Zimmermann Constellations Constellations Constellations The 88 Constellation There is a discussion at the end of this listing which includes an explanation of the Latin Genitive.

NAME of CONSTELLATION, 3-letter Abbreviation, Meaning of Name, Latin Gentitive ANDROMEDA, And, Daughter of Cassiopeia, Andromedae ANTLIA, Ant, Air Pump, Antliae APUS, Aps, Bird of Paradise, Apodis AQUARIUS, Aqr, Water Bearer, Aquarii AQUILA, Aql, Eagle, Aquilae CAELUM, Cae, Engraving Tool, Caeli CAMELOPARDALIS, Cam, Giraffe, Camelopardalis CANES VENATICI, CVn, Hunting Dog, Canum Venaticorum CANIS MAJOR, CMa, Big Dog, Canis Majoris CANIS MINOR, CMi, Little Dog, Canis Minoris CAPRICORNUS, Cap, Sea Goat, Capricorni CARINA, Car, Ship’s Keel, Carinae CASSIOPEIA, Cas, Queen of Ethiopia, Cassiopeiae CENTAURUS, Cen, Centaur, Centauri CEPHEUS, Cep, King of Ethiopia, Cephei CETUS, Cet, Whale, Ceti CIRCINUS, Cir

, Drawing Compass, Circini COLUMBA, Col, Dove, Columbae COMA BERENICES, Com, Berenice’s Hair, Comae Berenices CORONA AUSTRALIS, CrA, Southern Crown, Coronae Australis CORONA BOREALIS, CrB, Northern Crown, Coronae Borealis CORVUS, Crv, Crow, Corvi CRUX, Cru, Southern Cross, Crucis CYGNUS, Cyg, Swan, Cygni EQUULEUS, Equ, Little Horse, Equulei ERIDANUS, Eri River, Eridanus, Eridani FORNAX, For, Furnace, Fornacis HERCULES, Her, Strongman/The Son of Zeus, Herculis HOROLOGIUM, Hor, Clock, Horologii HYDRA, Hya, Sea Serpent, Hydrae HYDRUS, Hyi, Water Snake, Hydri INDUS, Ind, Indian, Indi LEO MINOR, LMi, Little Lion, Leonis Minoris LEPUS, Lep, Hare, Leporis MENSA, Men, Table Mountain, Mensae MICROSCOPIUM, Mic, Microscope

, Microscopii OPHIUCHUS, Oph, Snake Holder, Ophiuchi ORION, Ori, The Hunter, Orionis PAVO, Pav, Peacock, Pavonis PEGASUS, Peg, The Winged Horse, Pegasi PERSEUS, Per, Rescuer of Andromeda, Persei PHOENIX, Phe, Phoenix, Phoenicis PISCIS AUSTRINUS, PsA, Southern Fish, Piscis Austrini PUPPIS, Pup, Ship’s Stern, Puppis PYXIS, Pyx, Ship’s Compass, Pyxidis RETICULUM, Ret, Eyepiece Reticle, Reticuli SAGITTA, Sge, Arrow, Sagittae SCULPTOR, Scl, Sculptor’s Apparatus, Sculptoris SCUTUM, Sct, Shield, Scuti TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE, TrA, Southern Triangle, Trianguli Australis TUCANA, Tuc, Toucan, Tucanae URSA MAJOR, UMa, Big Bear, Ursae Majoris URSA MINOR, UMi, Little Bear, Ursae Minoris V

ELA, Vel, Sail, Velorum VOLANS, Vol, Flying Fish, Volantis VULPECULA, Vul Little Fox, Vulpeculae Discussion HISTORICAL.

Most constellations visible from the northern hemisphere originated from the Greeks, as recorded by Ptolemy in his first century book, The Almagest. Coma Berenices and Crux were added around 1603 and Plancius added Camelopardalis and Monoceros in 1613. In 1690, Hevelius added Lacerta, Leo Minor, Lynx, Scutum, Sextans and Vulpecula. At the very end of the 1600’s, the Dutchmen, Pieter Dirkszoon and Frederick de Houtman created 12 southern hemisphere constellations, namely: Apus, Chamaeleon, Dorado, Grus, Hydrus, Indus, Musca, Pavo, Phoenix, Triangulum Australe, Tucana and Volans.

In 1756, the Frenchman Nicolas Louis de Lacaille added the last 14 of the southen hemisphere constellations, namely: Antlia, Caelum, Circinus, Fornax, Horologium, Mensa, Microscopium, Norma, Octans, Pictor, Pyxis, Reticulum, Sculptor and Telescopium. He also split the extremely large constellation, Argo Navis (Ship Argo, sailed by Jason and the Argonauts), into Vela, Puppis and Carina. TRIVIA. Serpens, the Snake, is the only constellation split between two parts of the sky. The Snake is being held by Ophiuchus and lies across his body. The tail, known as Serpens CAUDA is located to the east or left of Ophiuchus and the head, known as Serpens CAPUT, is located to the west or right of Ophiuchus. Technically, Ophiuchus is the 13 constellation of the zodiac because part of its boundary (and foot) crosses the ecliptic. Crux occupies the least area in the sky and Hydra the most area.

LATIN GENITIVE. Genitive refers to a grammatical case resulting in a spelling variation of a word that indicates or implies a relationship of possession. Genitives are not used in modern English. Where they exist, they are a holdover from Latin and other languages. Genitives of the constellations are still used today in conjunction with the Bayer letters, Flamsteed numbers or similar designation to “name” stars. For example, the “alpha” star in Orion, as asigned by Bayer, but best known as Betelgeuse, could also be referred to as alpha Orionis, where Orionis is the genitive form of Orion, indicating possession of the alpha star. Betelgeuse can also be indicated as 58 Orionis when referring to it by its Flamsteed number. Most of us have heard of alpha Centauri, one of the closest stars to us. This is its gentitive name using its Bayer letter designation. This star is also commonly called by its name, Rigel Kentaurus. What’s Out Tonight? is sponsored by Ken Press, publisher of astronomy books and charts.

Phone: (520) 743-3200 • Fax: (520) 743-3210 • Email: office@kenpress.com Pegasus Constellation: Myth, Facts, Location, Stars, Deep Sky Objects | Constellation Guide Constellation Guide Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky Pegasus Constellation Pegasus constellation lies in the northern hemisphere. It is one of the largest constellations in the sky. It was first catalogued by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. The constellation was named after Pegasus, the winged horse in Greek mythology. The constellation is known for the Great Square of Pegasus, a familiar asterism in the northern sky, as well as for a number of bright stars and deep sky objects, among them Messier 15 (NGC 7078, Cumulo de Pegaso), Stephan’s Quintet of galaxies, the Einstein Cross (a gravitationally lensed quasar), and the unbarred spiral galaxy NGC 7742.

FACTS, LOCATION & MAP Pegasus Constellation Map, by IAU and Sky&Telescope magazine Pegasus is the seventh largest constellation in the sky, occupying an area of 1121 square degrees. It is located in the fourth quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ4) and can be seen at latitudes between +90° and -60°. The neighboring constellations are Andromeda , Aquarius , Cygnus , Delphinus , Equuleus , Lacerta , Pisces and Vulpecula . Pegasus contains a Messier object – Messier 15 (NGC 7078, Cumulo de Pegaso) – and has nine stars with confirmed planets. The brightest star in the constellation is Enif, Epsilon Pegasi, with an apparent visual magnitude of 2.399. There is one meteor shower associated with Pegasus; the July Pegasids. Pegasus belongs to the Perseus family of constellations, along with with Andromeda , Auriga , Cassiopeia , Cepheus , Cetus , Lacerta , Perseus , and Triangulum .

MYTH In Greek mythology, Pegasus is a white winged horse that sprang from the neck of the Gorgon Medusa when Perseus beheaded her. Medusa was a beautiful young woman before she was turned into a monster by the goddess Athena after being caught being defiled by the sea god Poseidon in the goddess’ temple. Athena turned Medusa’s hair into snakes and made her face so ugly that anyone who looked at her immediately turned to stone. Perseus was sent to kill Medusa by King Polydectes of Seriphus, who was the brother of Dictys, the man who took Perseus and his mother Danaë in and raised Perseus as his own son. Polydectes wanted Danaë for himself and Perseus stood in his way because he defended his mother from the king’s advances. He did not expect the hero to come back from his mission alive. When Perseus killed Medusa, Pegasus and the warrior Chrysaor sprang from her neck, both of them offspring of Poseidon.

The name Pegasus is derived from the Greek pegai which means “springs” or “waters,” and Chrysaor’s name means “the golden sword.” When he was born, Pegasus flew away to Mount Helicon in Boeotia, where the Muses lived, and he befriended them. He created a spring that was named Hippocrene by striking the ground with his hoof. The name Hippocrene means “the horse’s fountain.” It was said that those who drank from the spring were blessed with the gift to write poetry. The most famous myth involving Pegasus is the one of Bellerophon, the hero who was sent by King Iobates of Lycia to kill the Chimaera, a monster that breathed fire and was devastating the king’s land. Bellerophon found Pegasus and tamed him using a golden bridle given to him by the goddess Athena. Then he swooped down on the Chimaera from the sky and killed the monster with his lance and arrows. After this and several other heroic deeds for King Iobates, Bellerophon let the successes get to his head. Riding Pegasus, he tried to fly to Olympus and join the gods. He didn’t succeed.

He fell off the horse and back to Earth. Pegasus did however make it to Olympus. There, Zeus used the horse to carry his thunder and lightning, and eventually placed him among the constellations. The constellation Pegasus is depicted with only the top half of the horse, and it is nevertheless one of the largest constellations in the sky, seventh in size. MAJOR STARS IN PEGASUS THE GREAT SQUARE OF PEGASUS – ASTERISM The Great Square of Pegasus represents the main body of Pegasus. It is a prominent asterism made up of three bright stars in Pegasus and Alpha Andromedae, which in ancient times was considered to belong to both Pegasus and Andromeda constellations and marked both the navel of the horse and the top of Andromeda’s head. In the 17th century, Johann Bayer gave the star a dual designation, Alpha Andromedae and Delta Pegasi. The name Delta Pegasi has long been retired and the star is now known only as Alpha Andromedae, or by its proper name, Alpheratz.

The other stars that form the Great Square of Pegasus are Markab (Alpha Pegasi), Scheat (Beta Pegasi), and Algenib (Gamma Pegasi). Markab – α Pegasi (Alpha Pegasi) Alpha Pegasi is giant star belonging to the spectral class B9 III. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 2.48 and is approximately 133 light years distant. It is only the third brightest star in Pegasus. It has a radius almost five times that of the Sun. The star’s traditional name comes from the Arabic word markab, which means “the saddle of the horse.” Scheat – β Pegasi (Beta Pegasi) Beta Pegasi is the second brightest star in the constellation. It has the stellar classification M2.3 II-III, which means that it is a red star halfway between the subgiant and giant stage. It is about 1500 times more luminous than the Sun. The traditional name, Scheat, comes from the Arabic Al Sā’id, which means “the upper arm.” Beta Pegasi has an apparent magnitude of 2.42 and is about 196 light years distant.

It is classified as a semi-regular variable star with a period of 43.3 days. Its brightness ranges from magnitude 2.31 to 2.74. The star is losing mass and as a result it has a shell of gas and dust that is expanding with a radius of about 3500 times that of the Sun. Algenib – γ Pegasi (Gamma Pegasi) Algenib is a subgiant star of the spectral type B2 IV. It has a visual magnitude of 2.84 and is approximately 390 light years distant. It marks the lower left-hand corner of the Great Square of Pegasus. Gamma Pegasi is classified as a Beta Cephei variable, which means that its variations in brightness can be attributed to pulsations of the star’s surface. It has a radial pulsation period of 0.15175 days during which its brightness varies from 2.78 to 2.89. Algenib is almost nine times as massive as the Sun and has about five times the solar radius. It is 5840 times more luminous than the Sun.

Enif – ε Pegasi (Epsilon Pegasi) Epsilon Pegasi is the brightest star in Pegasus. It has a visual magnitude of 2.399 and is approximately 690 light years distant from the Sun. Its traditional name, Enif, comes from the Arabic word for “the nose.” The star marks Pegasus’ muzzle. Enif belongs to the spectral class K2 Ib. This means that it is an orange supergiant. It is 12 times more massive than the Sun, about 5000 times more luminous, and it has 185 times the Sun’s radius. Epsilon Pegasi is classified as a LC type slow irregular variable. It varies from 0.7 to 3.5 in magnitude. The star’s spectrum shows an overabundance of barium and strontium. The star is also notable for having a relatively high peculiar velocity (true velocity) of 21.6 km/s. Homam – ζ Pegasi (Zeta Pegasi) Zeta Pegasi is a main sequence star of the spectral type B8 V.

It has an apparent magnitude of 3.414 and is about 204 light years distant from the Sun. It has four times the solar radius. The star is classified as a slowly pulsating B star with slight variations in luminosity. It has a period of 22.952± 0.804 hours and completes 1.04566 cycles per day. Zeta Pegasi is a rapid rotator, with an estimated rotational velocity between 140 and 210 km/s. It has two visual companions, a magnitude 11.6 star 68 arc seconds away and an 11th magnitude star 177 arc seconds away. The star’s traditional name, Homam, means “the lucky star of the high minded” or “man of high spirit.” Matar – η Pegasi (Eta Pegasi) Eta Pegasi is a double star approximately 167 light years distant from the solar system. It has a visual magnitude of 2.95 and is the fifth brightest star in the constellation. It is composed of two stars that orbit each other with a period of 813 days.

The brighter component in the system is a bright giant of the spectral type G2 II, four times more massive and 247 times more luminous than the Sun. The companion is a main sequence star belonging to the spectral class F0 V. The name Matar comes from the Arabic phrase Al Saʽd al Maṭar, which means “the lucky star of rain.” Baham – θ Pegasi (Theta Pegasi) Theta Pegasi belongs to the spectral class A2 Vp and is about 67 light years distant from Earth. It has a visual magnitude of 3.53. It is 25 times more luminous than the Sun and has 2.6 times the solar radius. Sadalbari – μ Pegasi (Mu Pegasi) Mu Pegasi is a yellow giant star of the spectral type G8 III. It has a visual magnitude of 3.514 and is 106.1 light years distant. It has a radius almost ten times solar, but is only slightly more massive than the Sun, about 2.7 times.

The star’s traditional name, Sadalbari, comes from the Arabic phrase for “luck star of the splendid one.” 51 Pegasi 51 Pegasi is a main sequence star similar to the Sun, approximately 50.9 light years distant from Earth. It belongs to the spectral class G5V and has an apparent magnitude of 5.49. 51 Pegasi was the first star ever discovered that was similar to the Sun and had a planet in its orbit. The star has a radius 24% larger than the Sun and is 11% more massive. It is also older than the Sun, with an estimated age between 6.1 and 8.1 billion years. The exoplanet, 51 Pegasi b, was discovered on October 6, 1995. It has at least half the mass of Jupiter. The planet was nicknamed Bellerophon. IK Pegasi IK Pegasi is a double star approximately 150 light years distant. It has a visual magnitude of 6.078. The two stars in the system have an orbital period of 21.7 days.

The brighter component is a main sequence star belonging to the spectral class A8m. It is classified as a Delta Scuti variable and its variation cycle repeats itself 22.9 times a day. The companion star, IK Pegasi B, is a white dwarf. It is the nearest supernova progenitor candidate known, and will eventually explode as a Type Ia supernova once the brighter star in the system evolves into a red giant and grows a radius that allows the white dwarf to accrete matter from its expanded gaseous envelope. DEEP SKY OBJECTS IN PEGASUS Messier 15 – This globular lies about 35 000 light-years from the Earth, in the constellation of Pegasus (The Flying Horse). Messier 15 is one of the densest globulars known, with the vast majority of the cluster’s mass concentrated in the core. Astronomers think that particularly dense globulars, like this one, underwent a process called core collapse, in which gravitational interactions between stars led to many members of the cluster migrating towards the centre.

Image: ESA, Hubble and NASA Cumulo de Pegaso – Messier 15 (M15, NGC 7078) Messier 15 is a globular cluster, about 18 arc minutes in size. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 6.2 and is about 33,600 light years distant. With an absolute magnitude of -9.2, M15 is 360,000 times brighter than the Sun. The brightest stars in the cluster are of magnitude 12.6. The cluster was discovered by the Italian-born astronomer Jean-Dominique Maraldi in 1746, and included in Charles Messier’s catalogue in 1764. M15 is believed to be 12 billion years old, which makes it one of the oldest globular clusters known. It contains more than 100,000 stars, among them a significant number of variables and pulsars, including the double neutron star M15 C. Pease 1, image: NASA The cluster is also home to Pease 1, a planetary nebula discovered in 1928.

Pease 1 was the first planetary nebula discovered within a globular cluster. The nebula has an apparent magnitude of 15.5. M15 also contains two bright x-ray sources, Messier 15 X-1 and Messier 15 X-2. Stephan’s Quintet–A Galaxy Collision in Action Stephan’s Quintet, a compact group of galaxies discovered about 130 years ago and located about 280 million light years from Earth, provides a rare opportunity to observe a galaxy group in the process of evolving from an X-ray faint system dominated by spiral galaxies to a more developed system dominated by elliptical galaxies and bright X-ray emission. Photo: NASA Stephan’s Quintet (HCG 92, Arp 319) Stephan’s Quintet is a group of five galaxies, NGC 7317-7320, first discovered by the French astronomer Édouard Stephan at Marseilles Observatory in 1877. They lie about 280 million light years from Earth. Four of the five galaxies were the first compact galaxy group ever discovered.

The brightest galaxy in the group is NGC 7320, which is only 40 million light years distant. The other four galaxies in the group form a physical association, the Hickson Compact Group 92, and will eventually merge. NGC 7320 This portrait of Stephan’s Quintet, also known as Hickson Compact Group 92, was taken by the new Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) aboard NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Stephan’s Quintet, as the name implies, is a group of five galaxies. The name, however, is a bit of a misnomer. Studies have shown that group member NGC 7320, at upper left, is actually a foreground galaxy about seven times closer to Earth than the rest of the group. Three of the galaxies have distorted shapes, elongated spiral arms, and long, gaseous tidal tails containing myriad star clusters, proof of their close encounters. These interactions have sparked a frenzy of star birth in the central pair of galaxies. This drama is being played out against a rich backdrop of faraway galaxies. The image, taken in visible and near-infrared light, showcases WFC3’s broad wavelength range.

The colors trace the ages of the stellar populations, showing that star birth occurred at different epochs, stretching over hundreds of millions of years. The camera’s infrared vision also peers through curtains of dust to see groupings of stars that cannot be seen in visible light. NGC 7319, at top right, is a barred spiral with distinct spiral arms that follow nearly 180 degrees back to the bar. The blue specks in the spiral arm at the top of NGC 7319 and the red dots just above and to the right of the core are clusters of many thousands of stars. Most of the quintet is too far away even for Hubble to resolve individual stars. Continuing clockwise, the next galaxy appears to have two cores, but it is actually two galaxies, NGC 7318A and NGC 7318B. Encircling the galaxies are young, bright blue star clusters and pinkish clouds of glowing hydrogen where infant stars are being born. These stars are less than 10 million years old and have not yet blown away their natal cloud. Far away from the galaxies, at right, is a patch of intergalactic space where many star clusters are forming.

NGC 7317, at bottom left, is a normal-looking elliptical galaxy that is less affected by the interactions. Sharply contrasting with these galaxies is the dwarf galaxy NGC 7320 at upper left. Bursts of star formation are occurring in the galaxy’s disk, as seen by the blue and pink dots. In this galaxy, Hubble can resolve individual stars, evidence that NGC 7320 is closer to Earth. NGC 7320 is 40 million light-years from Earth. The other members of the quintet reside 290 million light-years away in the constellation Pegasus. NGC 7320 is a spiral galaxy 39 million light years distant. It has a visual magnitude of 13.2 and a diameter of 2.2 arc minutes. The galaxy is not part of the Hickson Compact Group, but is located in the same line of sight as the other four galaxies. NGC 7320 has large H II regions where intense star formation is taking place. NGC 7317 NGC 7317 has an apparent visual magnitude of 14.57.

It is 0.4’x’.4’ in size. It is classified as a type E4 elliptical galaxy. NGC 7318 NGC 7318 is a pair of colliding galaxies, NGC 7318a and NGC 7318b, located some 300 million light years away. Their apparent visual magnitudes are 14.4 and 13.9 respectively. NGC 7319 NGC 7319 is a spiral galaxy approximately 360 million light years distant. It has an apparent magnitude of 14.1. A quasar was discovered in the heart of the galaxy in January 2005 and its light spectrum suggests that it is billion of light years distant, which caused some controversy because the galaxy is believed to be much closer to us. The discovery shook the assumption that a ‘high redshift’ in a quasar’s light spectrum meant that the quasar was one of the fastest receding objects in the universe, which in turn meant that it was billions of light years distant from Earth.

However, too many quasars have been discovered that were closely associated with galaxies significantly less distant than that. NGC 7315 NGC 7315 is an elliptical galaxy in Pegasus. It is 1.2’x1.2′ in size and has a visual magnitude of 13.9. The galaxy is notable because a Type Ia supernova, SN 2007B, was observed in it in 2007. NGC 7742, image: Hubble Heritage Team NGC 7742 NGC 7742 is an unbarred spiral galaxy in Pegasus, seen face-on. The galaxy is notable for having a ring, but no bar, which would normally produce the ring structure in the galaxy. The ring structure in NGC 7742 may be the result of a merger with a small, gas-rich dwarf galaxy, and the extremely bright central region and some of the gas rotating in the opposite direction are some of the features that suggest this may have been the case.

NGC 7742 has a visual magnitude of 12.35 and is approximately 72.4 million light years distant from the Sun. NGC 7331, photo: Vicent Peris NGC 7331 (Caldwell 30) NGC 7331 is a spiral galaxy with a visual magnitude of 10.4, about 40 million light years distant. The galaxy was discovered by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel in 1784. It has a similar structure and size to the Milky Way. NGC 7331 is the brightest galaxy in the NGC 7331 Group, sometimes also called the Deer Lick Group. What is particularly notable about the galaxy is that its bulge is rotating in the opposite direction to the rest of the galaxy’s disk. NGC 7217, photo: NASA The 88 Official Constellations TABLE: The Constellations The Latin names and meanings of the official 88 constellations are given below. The original 48 constellations of Ptolemy are indicated with an asterisk *.

Ptolemy's constellation Argo the Boat was later divided into three parts (Carina, Puppis, and Vela, which are noted).

Latin Name Meaning Andromeda Daughter of Cassiopeia Antlia The Air Pump Apus Bird of Paradise Aquarius The Water-Bearer Aquila The Eagle Ara * The Altar Aries The Ram Auriga The Charioteer Boötes The Herdsman Caelum The Chisel Camelopardalis The Giraffe Cancer * The Crab Canes Venatici The Hunting Dogs Canis Major * The Big Dog Canis Minor * The Little Dog Capricornus * The Goat Carina * The Keel (of Argo) Cassiopeia The Queen Centaurus The Centaur Cepheus The King Cetus * The Whale Chamaeleon The Chameleon Circinus The Compasses Columba The Dove Coma Berenices Berenice's Hair Corona Australis The Southern Crown Corona Borealis The Northern Crown Corvus The Crow Crater The Cup Crux The Cross Cygnus * The Swan Delphinus The Dolphin Dorado The Swordfish Draco The Dragon Equuleus The Little Horse Eridanus The River Fornax The Furnace Gemini The Twins Grus The Crane (bird) Hercules The Son of Zeus Horologium The Clock Hydra The Water Snake (female) Hydrus The Water Snake (male

) Indus The Indian (American) Lacerta The Lizard Leo * The Lion Leo Minor The Little Lion Lepus The Hare Libra The Balance Lupus The Wolf Lynx The Lynx Lyra The Lyre Mensa The Table Microscopium The Microscope Monoceros The Unicorn Musca The Fly Norma The Square Octans The Octant Ophiuchus The Serpent-Bearer Orion The Hunter Pavo The Peacock Pegasus The Winged Horse Perseus Rescuer of Andromeda Phoenix The Phoenix Pictor The Painter Pisces The Fishes Piscis Austrinus The Southern Fish Puppis The Stern (of Argo) Pyxis The Compass Reticulum The Reticle Sagitta * The Arrow Sagittarius The Archer Scorpius The Scorpion Sculptor The Sculptor Scutum The Shield Serpens The Serpent Sextans The Sextant Taurus The Bull Telescopium The Telescope Triangulum * The Triangle Triangulum Australe The Southern Triangle Tucana The Toucan Ursa Major * The Great Bear Ursa Minor * The Little Bear Vela The Sails (of Argo) Virgo The Maiden Volans The Flying Fish Vulpecula The Fox

 The 88 Official Constellations TABLE: The Constellations The Latin names and meanings of the official 88 constellations are given below.

The original 48 constellations of Ptolemy are indicated with an asterisk *. Ptolemy's constellation Argo the Boat was later divided into three parts (Carina, Puppis, and Vela, which are noted).

Latin Name Meaning Andromeda * And Daughter of Cassiopeia, chained maiden Antlia Ant Air Pump Apus Aps Bird of Paradise Aquarius * Aqr Water-Bearer Aquila * Aql Eagle Ara * Ara Altar Aries * Ari Ram Auriga * Aur Charioteer Boötes * Boo Herdsman Caelum Cae Chisel Camelopardalis Cam Giraffe Cancer * Cnc Crab Canes Venatici CVn Hunting Dogs Canis Major * CMa Big Dog Canis Minor * CMi Little Dog Capricornus * Cap Sea Goat Carina * Car Keel (of Argo) Cassiopeia * Cas The Queen Centaurus * Cen Centaur Cepheus * Cep The King Cetus * Cet Whale Chamaeleon Cha Chameleon Circinus Cir Compasses Columba Col Dove Coma Berenices Com Berenice's Hair Corona Australis * CrA Southern Crown Corona Borealis * CrB Northern Crown Corvus * Crv Crow Crater * Crt Cup Crux Cru Southern Cross Cygnus * Cyg Swan Delphinus * Del Dolphin Dorado Dor Swordfish Draco * Dra Dragon Equuleus * Equ Little Horse Eridanus *

 Eri The River Eridanus Fornax For Furnace Gemini * Gem Twins Grus Gru Crane (bird) Hercules * Her The Son of Zeus Horologium Hor Clock Hydra * Hya The Water Snake (female) Hydrus Hyi The Water Snake (male) Indus Ind Indian (American) Lacerta Lac Lizard Leo * Leo Lion Leo Minor LMi Little Lion Lepus * Lep Hare Libra * Lib Balance (scale) Lupus * Lup Wolf Lynx Lyn Lynx Lyra * Lyr Lyre Mensa Men Table (mountain) Microscopium Mic Microscope Monoceros Mon Unicorn Musca Mus Fly Norma Nor Carpenter's Square Octans Oct Octant Ophiuchus * Oph Serpent-Bearer Orion * Ori The Hunter Pavo Pav Peacock Pegasus * Peg The Winged Horse Perseus * Per The Rescuer of Andromeda Phoenix Phe Phoenix Pictor Pic Painter's Easel Pisces * Psc Fishes Piscis Austrinus * PsA Southern Fish Puppis * Pup Stern (of Argo) Pyxis Pyx Compass (Malus) Reticulum Ret Reticle (net) Sagitta * Sge Arrow

 Sagittarius * Sgr Archer Scorpius * Sco Scorpion Sculptor Scl Sculptor's Workshop Scutum Sct Shield Serpens * Ser Serpent (head=Caput, tail=Cauda) Sextans Sex Sextant Taurus * Tau Bull Telescopium Tel Telescope Triangulum * Tri Triangle Triangulum Australe TrA Southern Triangle Tucana Tuc Toucan Ursa Major * UMa Great Bear Ursa Minor * UMi Little Bear Vela * Vel Sails (of Argo) Virgo * Vir Maiden Volans Vol Flying Fish Vulpecula Vul Fox In addition Ptolemy places stars in Aqua in Aquarius, which is the eastern part of the modern constellation.

Question: What is the Latin name for the star constellation known in English as 'The Flying Horse'?
Answer: PEGASUS